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Ali dismisses Rovers links

Judan Ali has rubbished reports of him taking over as manager of Blackburn Rovers after the sacking of Henning Berg.

The 39-year old has had experience on the amateur and youth scene and there were also talks of former Aston Villa assistant manager Kevin McDonald joining him on the coaching staff.

However, Ali has denied these rumours, insisting he merely approached the club in a bid to further himself as a coach, and has said he does not see himself in a managerial role at the Lancashire outfit.

"Not at all. I've had no intentions of coaching here," Ali told reporters.

"It's for my personal development, observing how a professional club is operated and structured for elite players. I want to see how it compares with those I've been with in eastern Europe, in India and in the Caribbean.

"For me it's almost a once in a blue moon opportunity to be at a professional outfit such as Blackburn Rovers.

"I've not come here to look at the playing side of the business at all. It's to see how the club is, the facilities, the sports science.

"I've not come in to critique, judge or even take notes on how the training sessions are delivered by any members of the coaching team."

Ali was also hesitant to speak of any information regarding any other possible candidates for the vacant role, insisting he knew nothing about who the club were targeting.

"I'm not privy to any of this information," he said. "I don't have any input on the playing side of the club and I strictly can say that I'm being transparent.

"It's a time of volatility or controversy or whatever you want to call it and I happen to be at the centre of it all."